Winter 2011 - Muskegon Community College
Winter 2011 - Muskegon Community College
Winter 2011 - Muskegon Community College
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eflections<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> Magazine <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
eflections<br />
Upgrades to<br />
Carr-Fles Planetarium<br />
Helping Students<br />
and <strong>Community</strong><br />
Reach for the Stars<br />
MCC Helping<br />
At-Risk Students<br />
Achieve the Dream<br />
1948-1950 Alumni Reunite<br />
for Evening Under the Stars<br />
Experiential Learning<br />
Students Learn through<br />
Experiencing History,<br />
Business, and Politics<br />
Reflections Magazine 1
contents<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> Reflections Magazine | <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong><br />
Features<br />
4 Achieving the Dream | Helping at-risk students succeed<br />
4 Higher Learning Commission | MCC Makes the Grade<br />
5 Richard Kraft Hosts Evening Under the Stars Reunion |<br />
Longtime supporter invites alumni from 1948-50 back to the MCC campus<br />
7 Institute for Healing Racism | Popular program comes to MCC<br />
8 Foundation asks <strong>Community</strong> to “Reach for the Stars” |<br />
Campaign to renovate Carr-Fles Planetarium boosted by lead gift<br />
9 Focus on Entrepreneurship | MCC Business Department develops<br />
new program for start-up companies<br />
10 Experiential Learning | MCC instructors find new ways to stimulate<br />
learning by combining experience with instruction<br />
12 Student Perspective on Experiential Learning | Participant in<br />
Gettysburg experience shares his view<br />
13 New TV Acting Class Draws Students | Rigorous Course helps<br />
students develop character acting skills<br />
Departments<br />
3 From the Desk of the President<br />
3 From the Editor<br />
6 Instructor Profile: Papa N’jai<br />
6 Students of Excellence: Justin Arnold<br />
7 MCC Student Clubs: Garden Club<br />
14 Donor Profile: Marvin Anderson<br />
14 Alumni Profile: Michael Burrel<br />
15 Focus on the Foundation: Peter Turner<br />
16 Alumni News<br />
18 Faculty/Staff Updates<br />
19 Jayhawk Sports Digest<br />
19 Campus Events<br />
On the cover:<br />
This giant spiral disk of stars, dust, and gas is 170,000<br />
light-years across, almost twice the diameter of our<br />
Milky Way galaxy. M101 is estimated to contain at least<br />
one trillion stars. Photo courtesy of HubbleSite.com. See<br />
more of the universe at MCC’s Carr-Fles Planetarium.<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Reflections Magazine is<br />
published by the <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> Office<br />
of <strong>Community</strong> Relations<br />
Editor<br />
Tina Dee<br />
Contributing Writers<br />
Dan Rinsema-Sybenga<br />
Julie Weller<br />
Contact us<br />
Comments and suggestions<br />
are welcome<br />
communityrelations@muskegoncc.edu<br />
Office of <strong>Community</strong> Relations<br />
221 S. Quarterline Rd.<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> MI 49442<br />
(231) 777-0456<br />
www.muskegoncc.edu<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Board of Trustees<br />
Larry Wright, Chair<br />
Ann Oakes, Vice-Chair<br />
Dorothy Lester, Treasurer<br />
Nancy Frye, Secretary<br />
Donald Crandall, M.D.<br />
Sean Mullally<br />
Diana Osborn<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Staff Leadership<br />
Dr. Dale K. Nesbary,<br />
President<br />
Teresa A. Sturrus,<br />
Vice President for Academic Affairs<br />
Tina Dee,<br />
Director of <strong>Community</strong> Relations<br />
Anne Meilof,<br />
Director of Institutional<br />
Research and Development<br />
Michael Alstrom,<br />
Chief Information Officer<br />
Marty McDermott,<br />
Director of Athletics<br />
2 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
From the Desk of the President<br />
Science Education Key to Future Job Growth<br />
Science education, as identified by the<br />
National Science Foundation, is key to<br />
economic growth and development.<br />
Governments across the world have<br />
been demonstrating their agreement<br />
with this principle by investing heavily in<br />
science and technology education, and<br />
are quickly catching up to the leadership<br />
position long held in this area by the<br />
United States. Of particular concern<br />
to the National Science Foundation<br />
is lagging student interest in studying<br />
natural sciences or engineering, which<br />
affects the ability to acquire the technical<br />
skills and knowledge that are essential<br />
for knowledge-intensive economies.<br />
In the developing world, the number<br />
of first university Natural Science and<br />
Engineering degrees (broadly comparable<br />
to a U.S. baccalaureate) is rising, led by<br />
large increases in China, from about<br />
239,000 in 1998 to 807,000 in 2006.<br />
<strong>Community</strong> colleges play an important<br />
role in the ability of the United States to<br />
maintain its leadership role in science, as<br />
these institutions provide an important<br />
pool of students who go on to four-year<br />
science degrees. Many two-year science<br />
programs prepare students for science<br />
related occupations directly.<br />
At MCC, the importance of science has<br />
been long recognized in the structuring<br />
of our academic programs and in the<br />
planning of facilities and equipment<br />
purchases. However, these facilities<br />
are aging, are only minimally handicap<br />
accessible, and don’t provide enough<br />
From the Editor<br />
MCC’s Needs Assessments Seeking <strong>Community</strong> Input<br />
The mission of <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong><br />
<strong>College</strong> is to offer “programs that<br />
respond to individual, community<br />
and global needs.” To help ensure<br />
that we are meeting current needs,<br />
we are conducting a series of surveys<br />
and assessments. Students, alumni,<br />
community members, local businesses,<br />
education partners, and other<br />
stakeholders are invited to participate<br />
in surveys, focus groups, and other<br />
space or technology to provide our<br />
students an excellent science education.<br />
That is why the 2010 Facilities Master<br />
Plan called for the renovation of<br />
approximately 20,000 square feet of<br />
existing lab and classroom space into<br />
larger, technology-rich instructional<br />
spaces. The plan also called for the<br />
construction of a new two level addition<br />
to the current science wing which would<br />
create 21,000 SF of new space for six<br />
new labs, including preparation space,<br />
and six new instructional classrooms.<br />
As a demonstration of the importance of<br />
meeting this need for MCC, the five-year<br />
capital outlay plan of the college recently<br />
submitted to the State of Michigan listed<br />
this facility improvement as the college’s<br />
number one priority for consideration of<br />
state funds in the fiscal year 2012.<br />
The need for science education is one<br />
we clearly see demonstrated nationally<br />
and locally, but to get a broader picture<br />
of how <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> is<br />
meeting needs locally, MCC is conducting<br />
a larger needs assessment process. The<br />
results of this research will be used to<br />
direct the <strong>College</strong>’s Strategic Plan, which<br />
is currently being updated.<br />
<strong>Community</strong> input will help determine<br />
the biggest educational obstacles<br />
facing our community and will also<br />
provide direction about which types<br />
of academic programs and services are<br />
needed in our service area. Students,<br />
alumni, community members, local<br />
methods of determining community<br />
perceptions and needs.<br />
Reflections readers are a key constituent<br />
in this process. The fact that you are<br />
reading this publication indicates that you<br />
have an interest in our mission and how<br />
we are serving the community. Please<br />
take the time to share your thoughts<br />
with us by taking a brief online survey<br />
available at:<br />
businesses, education partners, and other<br />
stakeholders are invited to participate in<br />
surveys, focus groups, and other methods<br />
of determining community perceptions<br />
and needs. We invite you to participate<br />
in this process by completing an online<br />
community perceptions survey accessible<br />
at www.muskegoncc.edu/needs.<br />
The college will soon launch a major<br />
fundraising initiative to make our science<br />
upgrades and other facility enhancements<br />
a reality. We at MCC need your support<br />
to complete these important projects,<br />
whether it be a time, equipment, a<br />
financial support, or other contribution.<br />
Please contribute by visiting the<br />
following link: www.muskegoncc.edu/<br />
give, or by contacting our foundation<br />
staff by phone at (231) 777-0660 or<br />
email tina.dee@muskegoncc.edu.<br />
Whether it is science, or any of our<br />
programmatic areas, we are striving to<br />
do our best to position our region for<br />
success. Thanks for your support and<br />
participation of our mission here at<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>. <br />
Dale K. Nesbary, Ph.D., President<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
www.muskegoncc.edu/reflections.<br />
Thank you for your continued<br />
support of MCC!<br />
Tina Dee, MS, CFRM<br />
Director of <strong>Community</strong> Relations<br />
Reflections Magazine 3
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> is now<br />
part of 130 colleges nationwide in<br />
the Achieving the Dream consortium.<br />
MCC will not only learn from those<br />
that are already a part of it, but will<br />
receive assistance from experienced<br />
practitioners in building a culture of<br />
evidence campus-wide, using data to<br />
identify problems, set priorities, and<br />
measure progress toward increasing<br />
student success. Achieving the Dream<br />
MCC Passes Accreditation Review<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
has been accredited by the Higher<br />
Learning Commission of the North<br />
Central Association (HLC/NCA) since<br />
1929, most recently in 2000. In 2009<br />
and 2010, MCC undertook a two-year<br />
process to realize re-accreditation,<br />
an imperative step to serving the<br />
community with credible higher<br />
education.<br />
The comprehensive self-study process<br />
culminated in a self-study report,<br />
colleges make lasting changes in<br />
policies, programs, and services that<br />
are integrated to support success for all<br />
students.<br />
Achieving the Dream seeks to help<br />
more students earn postsecondary<br />
credentials, including occupational<br />
certificates and degrees.<br />
“[Achieving the Dream] signifies a<br />
commitment to student success and<br />
institutional improvement,” said MCC<br />
President Dale Nesbary. “It will<br />
allow for us to develop and enhance<br />
our student success and completion<br />
practices, whether they ensure that<br />
students complete an associate’s degree<br />
or certificate, or complete a single<br />
course designed to train students for<br />
specific skills or jobs.”<br />
To keep posted on MCC’s progress<br />
in Achieving the Dream, visit<br />
www.muskegoncc.edu/atd. <br />
submitted to the Commission in<br />
September 2010 and a site visit from<br />
the HLC took place October 25-27,<br />
when peer reviewers representing<br />
HLC/NCA were on the MCC campus.<br />
The draft report from the HLC<br />
visiting team indicated that they<br />
would be recommending a full 10<br />
year re-accreditation, with no three<br />
year focused visit, an accomplishment<br />
achieved by only 30% of institutions<br />
seeking re-accreditation. <br />
Strategic and Facility<br />
Master Plan Completed<br />
After a year of reaching and gathering input<br />
from students, faculty, and community<br />
members, MCC has completed updates<br />
to the strategic plan. The plan, available<br />
at www.muskegoncc.edu/strategicplan,<br />
identifies five priorities: Academic Foresight,<br />
Services to Students and <strong>Community</strong>,<br />
Physical Space and Infrastructure, Resource<br />
Development, and Human Resource<br />
Management.<br />
Details regarding priority #3, Physical Space<br />
and Infrastructure, are outlined in the Facility<br />
Master Plan, which identifies the need for<br />
new facilities in three academic areas:<br />
science, health education, and creative/<br />
performing arts. The initial planning process<br />
was completed in January when the Board<br />
of Trustees elected to implement the<br />
complete facility improvement plan, which<br />
includes new construction for the three<br />
areas and upgrades to some of the existing<br />
facilities infrastructure. In light of the $35<br />
million investment required, the plan will<br />
be implemented in phases, with the science<br />
addition in the first phase.<br />
“The board clearly saw a need in all three<br />
of these key academic areas and we are all<br />
on the same page that additional classrooms<br />
are needed to meet the needs of our<br />
growing student population,” commented<br />
Teresa Sturrus, Vice President for Academic<br />
Affairs. The college’s enrollment has<br />
increased 20.51% over the past nine years.<br />
“The board’s choice to focus on science<br />
first will help reduce the science-education<br />
gap our region is facing,” explains President<br />
Dr. Dale Nesbary. “The next phases<br />
include new space for health education<br />
and the arts. In addition to meeting crucial<br />
academic needs, these projects will benefit<br />
the community overall–by increasing<br />
access to wellness programs and the arts,<br />
we can build healthier and more engaged<br />
communities.” <br />
MCC President Dale Nesbary<br />
addresses the auditors from the<br />
Higher Learning Commission<br />
4 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
Classes of 1948-1950 Reunite for an<br />
Evening Under the Stars<br />
On October 30, 2010, <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> invited its graduates<br />
from the years 1948-1950 to “An Evening<br />
Under the Stars,” hosted by fellow<br />
classmate and MCC benefactor Richard<br />
Kraft.<br />
Attendees had the opportunity to<br />
peruse issues of The Bay Window from<br />
that time period, as well as yearbooks<br />
and other items of interest.<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> Junior <strong>College</strong>, as it was<br />
known at the time, was primarily the<br />
upper floor of what is now the <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
Board of Education building in downtown<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> (next to Hackley Park with the<br />
clock tower). Attendees were also given<br />
copies of the 1948 and 1949 yearbooks,<br />
which have been carefully stored in the<br />
archives of the Hendrik Meijer Library/<br />
Information Technology Center.<br />
After a social hour, campus tours, group<br />
photo, and dinner, they were treated<br />
to a show in the Carr-Fles Planetarium.<br />
During dessert, <strong>College</strong> President Dale<br />
Nesbary provided an update about the<br />
college’s strategic plans and goals.<br />
Jim Perry, class of 1948, commented, “It<br />
was a very pleasant evening for old friends<br />
to get re-acquainted after so many years.”<br />
Alumni from 1948-1950 who were not<br />
able to attend, are invited to contact MCC<br />
Alumni Relations to request a copy of the<br />
yearbooks and other materials distributed<br />
at the event. Contact Julie Weller at<br />
(231) 777-0461. <br />
In the News!!<br />
Time Man of Half Century<br />
Winston Churchill<br />
1950 Billboard No. 1 Song<br />
Third Man Theme by Anton Karas<br />
Top Headline of 1948<br />
Scientists at Bell Labs invent the transistor<br />
Top Headline of 1949<br />
Mao Tse-tung establishes Peoples Republic of China<br />
TUNE IN!<br />
MCC Magazine<br />
Monday 12:30pm & 5:30pm<br />
Institute For Healing Racism<br />
Tuesday 5:30pm & 10pm<br />
Today In Education<br />
Wednesday 5pm & 10:30pm<br />
Tech Talk with Jeff Stipes<br />
Thursday 10am & 10pm<br />
Timely Topics with Andy Wible<br />
Friday 10am & 10pm<br />
Sixty years of devotion to MCC: Class of 1948-1950<br />
reunion attendees pose for a group shot<br />
Watch MCC TV on Comcast Channels<br />
98, 44-5, and 902, or stream online at<br />
www.muskegoncc.edu/mcctv<br />
Reflections Magazine 5
Students of Excellence: Justin Arnold<br />
Jack Kent Cooke Award Winner Succeeding at GVSU<br />
By Dan Rinsema-Sybenga<br />
Former <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
student Justin Arnold is making his way<br />
at Grand Valley State University, after<br />
winning a Jack Kent Cooke Foundation<br />
Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship<br />
award in 2010. Thanks to the scholarship,<br />
Justin was able to quit his full-time job in<br />
manufacturing and pursue his education at<br />
GVSU full-time.<br />
Life for Justin at GVSU has been a whirlwind.<br />
He has been involved as a Leadership Fellow<br />
with the Peter Cook Leadership Academy<br />
at the Hauenstein Center (which is on<br />
the Grand Rapids GVSU campus). In this<br />
capacity he attends monthly leadership<br />
seminars with local leaders (including Pastor<br />
Ed Dobson and Ben Goi, the owner of<br />
Eastern Floral). He has also been meeting<br />
with a mentor who was the President<br />
of a local company for 22 years before<br />
retiring. Another Leadership Academy<br />
highlight was seeing former President<br />
Bush at the Ford Museum at the end of<br />
November while speaking about his new<br />
book “Decision Point,” and Justin received<br />
a signed copy. Justin has been active with<br />
several management seminars through the<br />
Center and GVSU busy networking with<br />
VP’s and managers, so he can learn more<br />
about his chosen career: human resource<br />
management.<br />
This led to a recent opportunity for him<br />
to work as an intern this coming summer<br />
at a global company, located in Rockford,<br />
MI. In October 2010 he was appointed<br />
to the Planning Commission for the city<br />
of Grand Haven by the city council. He is<br />
looking forward to being involved in local<br />
issues, and giving back to the community<br />
in this capacity.<br />
Instructor Profile:<br />
Papa N’jai, Social Science Department Chair<br />
By Dan Rinsema-Sybenga<br />
Justin Arnold, recipient<br />
of the Jack Kent<br />
Cooke Award<br />
Justin states, “I am keenly aware how<br />
valuable my time at MCC was, and how<br />
much the people there have contributed<br />
to my success. By delegating research<br />
opportunities to me, and helping me<br />
develop a plan for transferring to GVSU,<br />
and all the little things in between, MCC<br />
has made a giant impact in my life for the<br />
better.”<br />
Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship<br />
winners are provided with up to $30,000<br />
per year and only about 50 deserving<br />
students, of hundreds of faculty supported<br />
applicants, are selected annually, making it<br />
the largest private scholarship for two-year<br />
and community college transfer students in<br />
the country. <br />
Papa N’jai is an instructor who came<br />
the long way to MCC. A native of Sierre<br />
Leone, Papa came to West Michigan when<br />
he began his Master’s Degree at Western<br />
Michigan University. Initially wanting to<br />
get involved in nonprofit administration,<br />
he worked in the nonprofit sector in<br />
Grand Rapids, then decided he preferred<br />
the “two way street” of teaching and<br />
came to MCC in 2002.<br />
His global perspective is perfect<br />
for his subject areas; geography and<br />
anthropology. He enlightens students<br />
with technology-rich presentations of<br />
the subject matter, combined with his<br />
knowledge of how global connections<br />
across lands and cultures affect our dayto-day<br />
life in <strong>Muskegon</strong>. His most popular<br />
and well received class is Cultural<br />
Diversity, which provides a window for<br />
students beyond their own experience,<br />
helping to make them better global<br />
citizens.<br />
His colleagues respect him, evidenced<br />
by his recent appointment to chair of<br />
the Social Sciences department. In that<br />
capacity, he uses his administrative skills<br />
to facilitate the smooth running of the<br />
department, which houses 11 full time<br />
Papa N’jai enjoys<br />
teaching at <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
instructors, and promotes numerous<br />
special events, including Global Awareness<br />
Festival.<br />
“It’s such a treat to teach at MCC,” stated<br />
N’jai. “As much as I impart knowledge to<br />
the students, they get me back double<br />
with fresh eyes and perspectives that<br />
keep me sharp and excited to learn.” <br />
6 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
MCC Student Clubs and Organizations:<br />
Garden Club Flourishes<br />
The Garden Club is a flourishing upstart<br />
club in its second year of operation.<br />
Originating in 2009 from an idea presented<br />
in a class assignment by club president Jon<br />
K. Perog, the garden club has a clear-cut<br />
mission.<br />
To improve the community by growing<br />
food for charity is being accomplished<br />
every day at the garden club. By doing,<br />
and not just discussion alone, the garden<br />
club is not only looking to feed the<br />
community, they are working toward<br />
sustainability without contributing to<br />
consumable energy use as well as reducing<br />
waste by recycling.<br />
Through numerous fundraisers, support<br />
from area business entities, and the<br />
direction of club advisor, Kathy Pollock,<br />
the club’s tight budget is being met. For<br />
a mission such as this, support is always<br />
in need. Volunteers are always needed,<br />
and the requirements are very simple to<br />
By Kyla Brooks, Office of <strong>Community</strong> Relations Work-Study<br />
join. No experience is necessary; just be a<br />
currently enrolled student at MCC (with a<br />
love, like, or interest for gardening), and<br />
hold a minimum 2.0 grade point average.<br />
Volunteers and members gain lifelong<br />
knowledge in gardening, build friendships<br />
and confidence, and participate in service<br />
for the community where it counts the<br />
most. It’s quite simple, the more students<br />
that join or volunteer in the garden club,<br />
the more benefits and support the club<br />
will receive. The more support gained,<br />
the more crops produced -- which leads<br />
to more people in need being helped.<br />
That’s the math on which the garden club<br />
has built its short term goals. <br />
All green thumbs:<br />
MCC Gardening Club<br />
members planting for<br />
tomorrow<br />
Institute for Healing Racism Moves to MCC<br />
After more than a decade and with<br />
more than 3,300 <strong>Muskegon</strong> area<br />
citizens as graduates of its classes, the<br />
Institute for Healing Racism has moved<br />
to <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>. In<br />
2010, after a long and very supportive<br />
relationship with <strong>Muskegon</strong> Public<br />
Schools, officials of the IFHR began<br />
began partnership with <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> to host all IFHR<br />
sessions as well as provide office space<br />
for the organization.<br />
“ We have found this to be an<br />
extremely helpful partnership,”<br />
explained Larr y Lindquist ,<br />
Chair of the IFHR Board of<br />
Directors. “MCC has a lot<br />
of assets that make us<br />
great partners. Since<br />
our partnership began<br />
we have been able to cut<br />
our class fees in half, due<br />
to overhead saved by being located<br />
at MCC.” While partnering with<br />
MCC, the IFHR remains a separate<br />
nonprofit organization, governed by<br />
its Board of Directors.<br />
MCC, with its many <strong>Community</strong><br />
Education offerings, has been able<br />
to incorporate the IFHR sessions<br />
into it’s materials, meaning increased<br />
exposure for IFHR programs.<br />
Upcoming sessions of the IFHR<br />
include the Basic Institute, entitled<br />
“A Conversation on Race,” and<br />
Institute II, “The Next Step”<br />
which focuses primarily on<br />
institutional racism. Each<br />
will be of fered on a<br />
continuing basis during<br />
the coming months. More<br />
information is available at<br />
www.muskegoncc.edu/ihr. <br />
SAVE THE DATE<br />
F ounders’ D ay<br />
Gala<br />
Thursday,<br />
April 28, <strong>2011</strong><br />
Celebrating<br />
85 Years of<br />
Higher Education<br />
muskegoncc.edu/gala • (231) 777-0569<br />
Reflections Magazine 7
Foundation for MCC Launches $395,000 Campaign to Support Upgrades to Area’s Only Free Planetarium<br />
Planetarium Campaign Will Help Students<br />
and <strong>Community</strong> Reach for the Stars<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> Communit y <strong>College</strong>’s<br />
Carr-Fles Planetarium–the only free<br />
planetarium in West Michigan–has been<br />
promoting the study of science and<br />
providing free shows since 1972. While<br />
the planetarium is an important learning<br />
tool for MCC students, it is also a<br />
community treasure that has over 4,300<br />
visitors each year. Over half of these<br />
visitors are elementary students getting<br />
their first experience of the wonder of<br />
our solar system and beyond.<br />
Even though the planetarium is widely<br />
enjoyed, the technology of the 38-yearold<br />
equipment is aging and some<br />
information in the shows is out of<br />
date. <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
is committed to making sure this<br />
important resource remains available<br />
to the community and it’s the goal to<br />
create a state-of-the-art education and<br />
entertainment destination for everyone<br />
to enjoy–free of admission fees. To<br />
this end, the Foundation for <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> launched the Reach<br />
for the Stars campaign. The Foundation<br />
launched the campaign late last summer<br />
with a $395,000 goal. Meeting this goal<br />
will provide the funds needed to upgrade<br />
the planetarium with a digital projector,<br />
the latest shows, new sky dome, and<br />
theater environment.<br />
The campaign got started with a “big<br />
bang” in October with a $50,000 gift<br />
from alumnus Richard Kraft and his wife<br />
Ann. “In addition to Richard being an<br />
outstanding MCC success story, he has<br />
been a great friend to the college and<br />
therefore, to the greater <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
community,” stated <strong>College</strong> President,<br />
Dale K. Nesbary, Ph.D. “His advocacy<br />
for this project and higher education in<br />
general is appreciated.”<br />
Kraf t , who attended <strong>Muskegon</strong><br />
<strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> from 1947-1949, is<br />
clearly passionate about the planetarium<br />
project. “I challenge all MCC alumni and<br />
the greater <strong>Muskegon</strong> community to<br />
support MCC and the modernization and<br />
operation of the Carr-Fles Planetarium,”<br />
Kraft said.<br />
In addition to the free shows offered<br />
each Tuesday and Thursday evening, the<br />
planetarium provides special educational<br />
programming to school groups and<br />
organizations. Teachers and group<br />
leaders have the opportunity to select<br />
from 15 shows that are offered during<br />
private sessions at the planetarium.<br />
“While many people may think about<br />
the planetarium as entertainment, the<br />
real purpose is education,” explained Jon<br />
Truax, Planetarium Director. “Visits to<br />
the planetarium instill a sense of wonder<br />
about the universe that helps inspire an<br />
interest in science at a young age. And,<br />
no matter the age of student, the study<br />
of science helps fortify critical thinking<br />
skills that are the foundation of a liberal<br />
arts education.”<br />
Truax went on to explain that he was<br />
pleased to have such a positive response<br />
from Kraft, MCC employees, and<br />
other community members supporting<br />
the Reach for the Stars campaign.<br />
“Even though the planetarium is<br />
widely enjoyed, the technology of the<br />
38-year-old equipment is aging and<br />
some information in the shows is out<br />
of date—the upgrades are very much<br />
needed,” said Truax. “Understanding<br />
and technology in the field of astronomy<br />
have made immense progress since<br />
1972. New discoveries, made possible<br />
with new equipment, have provided<br />
new insights into the workings of the<br />
universe. In order to properly present<br />
these developments and enlighten our<br />
visitors with up-to-date information,<br />
these upgrades are unquestionably<br />
necessary.” <br />
For more information about making the dream of a state-of-the-art planetarium come true, visit<br />
www.muskegoncc.edu/reachforthestars or contact Tina Dee, MS, CRFM, Director of <strong>Community</strong> Relations/Foundation Director<br />
at tina.dee@muskegoncc.edu or (231) 777-0660.<br />
8 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
18.66%<br />
Reach for the Stars<br />
Campaign to support the<br />
Carr-Fles Planetarium<br />
GOAL: $395,000<br />
Universe Partner<br />
Richard and Ann Kraft<br />
Galaxy<br />
Jean Stevenson<br />
Constellation<br />
Marvin Anderson<br />
John Bartley<br />
JAAR/McDonalds<br />
Jean Stevenson<br />
Star<br />
Wayne and Nancy Brenneman<br />
Don and Nancy Crandall<br />
Robert and Cathleen DuBault<br />
Roy and Karma Graves<br />
William and Kenna Loxterman<br />
Ann and Robert Nussdorfer<br />
Peter Turner<br />
Planet<br />
Wayne and Linda Barrett<br />
Pam and Douglas Brown<br />
Mike and Joanna Buboltz<br />
Leona Carr<br />
Robert and Elizabeth Cutler<br />
John and Sherry DeBoer<br />
Tina Dee and Scott Lampe<br />
Beda and Louie Dubois<br />
Sherry Fairfield-Tagle<br />
Diane Krasnewich and Tim Trainor<br />
Gerald and Gayle Nyland<br />
Diana and Terry Osborn<br />
Mary Payne<br />
Roy and Britta Portenga<br />
Ted Saladin<br />
Gary Spencer<br />
Teresa and Tom Sturrus<br />
Mark Vandermuelen<br />
Sue Wierengo<br />
Richand and Judy Wilcox<br />
Donald and Patricia Wilder<br />
Lynne Wood<br />
Susan and Paul Zemke<br />
Rosemary Zink<br />
Those listed have made a contribution of $250 or more as of 12/31/10.<br />
Please contact us at (231) 777-0660 if there are any inaccuracies.<br />
Multi-Disciplinary Entrepreneurship<br />
Program Launched<br />
By David Stradal, Business Instructor<br />
The Business Department at<br />
MCC is proud to announce a new<br />
Entrepreneurship Program. This fivecourse<br />
program takes students through<br />
important steps to becoming an<br />
entrepreneur including: personal skills<br />
and temperament assessment, business<br />
idea generation and feasibility, accounting<br />
and finance, marketing, and business plan<br />
preparation and presentation. Students<br />
are also introduced to key members<br />
of the community including; successful<br />
entrepreneurs, Chamber of Commerce,<br />
SCORE, and many others.<br />
Consistent with “best in class”<br />
community colleges across the country,<br />
the Entrepreneurship Program is not<br />
just a Business Department program but<br />
an interdisciplinary program intended to<br />
reinforce an entrepreneurship mindset<br />
across all departments at the campus.<br />
Students within a discipline will find that<br />
the best prospect of employment, in<br />
many cases, is working for themselves.<br />
Some of the logical programs would be<br />
auto mechanics, welding, and media arts.<br />
Some of the not so typical programs that<br />
have already expressed an interest are<br />
performing arts, gaming, global/special<br />
technology, and renewable energy, to<br />
name a few.<br />
<strong>Community</strong> outreach is an important<br />
part of the new program and MCC has<br />
partnered with the <strong>Muskegon</strong> Chamber<br />
of Commerce and its newly formed<br />
E-Coordinating Council to respond<br />
to the community’s need to help<br />
individuals launch their own business.<br />
The overall goal is to instill the concept<br />
of entrepreneurship beginnings at the<br />
elementary school level, continuing it<br />
through college and beyond.<br />
Currently MCC is seeking to build a<br />
library of the many business ownership<br />
experience stories of our alumni. If<br />
you are, or were, an entrepreneur/<br />
business owner, we ask for a brief<br />
summary of; your business, personal<br />
education profile, and experiences (see<br />
below). Alumni profiles may be featured<br />
in student newsletter distributed<br />
periodically throughout the school year<br />
in support of a “U Can 2!” message to<br />
our current students. <br />
MCC is partnering with e-merge, a program of the <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> Entrepreneurial<br />
Coordinating Council. Want to learn more Do you have an alumni business story to share<br />
Contact David Stradal at (231) 777-0304 or david.stradal@muskegoncc.edu.<br />
Reflections Magazine 9
Moving from the Passive Classroom to Activity-Based Education<br />
Experiential Learning Provides<br />
New Direction for Learning<br />
by Julie Weller<br />
“The experience to be<br />
gathered from books, though<br />
often valuable, is but of the<br />
nature of learning. Whereas<br />
the experience gained from<br />
actual life, is of the nature of<br />
wisdom. And a small store of<br />
the latter is worth vastly more<br />
than a stock of the former.”<br />
– Samuel Smiles, Scottish author<br />
If you had the choice, would you prefer<br />
to read about the Civil War in a book,<br />
or would you rather be there At the<br />
site of the battle, you could feel the<br />
warmth of the sun or coolness of the<br />
rain; visualize the approaching men<br />
and horses as they crested the hill to<br />
the north of you; smell the grass, dirt,<br />
and pungent odor of gunpowder as<br />
the cannons are loaded; and almost<br />
hear the charge of troops and crisp<br />
shots of rifles and cries of agony of the<br />
wounded.<br />
Would you rather study the politics of<br />
the United States and the differences<br />
between us and other nations, or<br />
would you rather be part of the<br />
delegation<br />
At <strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>, you<br />
can do these things. Experience-based<br />
learning involves the whole student,<br />
meaning not just their intellect but<br />
also their senses, their feelings and<br />
their personalities. Students in these<br />
situations are better able to relate<br />
to the subject matter in a way that is<br />
meaningful to their own lives.<br />
“We’re in our ninth year of these<br />
p rogr a m s at M CC ,” s a i d Ku r t<br />
Troutman, MCC political science<br />
instructor. “We started with Model<br />
United Nations, and expanded it to<br />
Model Arab League, then to Model<br />
NATO, and finally to the historic trips<br />
in the last three years.<br />
“Experiential Learning is the laboratory<br />
for liberal arts curriculums,” Troutman<br />
continues. “It’s the oppor tunity<br />
students have to apply what they’re<br />
learning in the lectures.”<br />
When taking certain history, political<br />
science, or business courses, students<br />
at MCC have the option of visiting<br />
historic Civil War battle sites in<br />
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania or Vicksburg,<br />
Mississippi. Or they can learn the<br />
ultimate lessons in international<br />
relations at Model United Nations,<br />
Model Arab League, or Model NATO.<br />
Business students can visit the<br />
Chicago Stock Exchange and immerse<br />
themselves in the hectic, and often<br />
frantic, world of buying and selling<br />
stocks.<br />
“I would highly recommend this type<br />
of experience to other students<br />
whether or not they are interested<br />
in history,” said MCC student Lance<br />
Marczak , when asked about his<br />
recent trip to Gettysburg. “This trip<br />
was about experiencing learning<br />
for itself as opposed to simply<br />
listening to lectures and t aking<br />
extensive notes about a particular<br />
subject. When people purely learn<br />
from information being thrown at<br />
10 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
them by professors, it most often goes<br />
in one ear and out the other; it slowly<br />
fades and is eventually forgotten as<br />
though it never was important in<br />
the first place. Experience though<br />
lasts and brings forth a new and<br />
better means of understanding the<br />
both the historical and contemporary<br />
world around us, and that is why the<br />
significance of an experiential learning<br />
trip such as this must continue to be<br />
recognized.” (See “A New Way of<br />
Learning” on page 12 to learn more<br />
about Lance’s student perspective of<br />
experiential learning.)<br />
The benefits to students participating<br />
in experiential learning go beyond the<br />
academic – they involve the student<br />
socially, professionally and personally.<br />
In a report by MCC instructor David<br />
Takitaki, students gave their input<br />
on the political modeling programs.<br />
More than 95% of students who<br />
participated felt that they had gained a<br />
better understanding of international<br />
relations, and 90% claimed to have<br />
gained research and negotiating skills.<br />
Better than 80% of participating<br />
students noted improvements to<br />
their public speaking and teamwork<br />
skills, and the responses indicating<br />
increased self-confidence, patience,<br />
and motivation all topped 70%.<br />
Other studies have shown that this<br />
type of active learning model provides<br />
longer-term recall and problem-solving<br />
skills than learning by hearing, reading,<br />
or watching.<br />
“I’m not a history person,” said MCC<br />
student and military veteran Robert<br />
Boyer. “The book was a hard read,<br />
but the trip [to Gettysburg] was the<br />
most educational experience of my<br />
life, outside of going to Afghanistan.<br />
It was awesome! And, the instructor’s<br />
information w as phenomenal. I<br />
recommend it to anyone.” <br />
Experiential Learning<br />
Activities at MCC<br />
Model United Nations<br />
Leadership, Politics, and<br />
Negotiating<br />
Model Arab League<br />
Leadership, Politics, and<br />
Negotiating<br />
Model NATO<br />
Leadership, Politics, and<br />
Negotiating<br />
History Trip:<br />
Gettysburg, PA<br />
Historic Civil War Battlefield<br />
History Trip:<br />
Vicksburg, MS<br />
Historic Civil War Battlefield<br />
Business: Chicago<br />
Stock Exchange<br />
In the midst of the action, on the<br />
floor of the Exchange<br />
Participants of the trip to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania pose<br />
with statue of Abraham Lincoln<br />
Reflections Magazine 11
A New Way of Learning<br />
by Lance Marczak, MCC Student<br />
If a blatant educational society<br />
illustrates anything, it is that the<br />
majority of those who ardently<br />
seek success in life must pursue and<br />
commit to some form of academic<br />
learning. The academic environment<br />
our society has created has tended<br />
to overemphasize pure information<br />
learning, ignoring the value in<br />
experiencing what others themselves<br />
experience. Simply listening to<br />
lectures and taking extensive notes<br />
is no longer exclusively acceptable<br />
because in today’s world, educated<br />
experience prevails over educated<br />
knowledge. In order for one to reach<br />
his or her full academic potential,<br />
one must discover the benefits that<br />
come from experience, and if there<br />
was ever a pair of experiences in my<br />
life that embodies this idea, it is my<br />
recent school trips to Gettysburg and<br />
Chicago.<br />
For the fall semester of 2010, I<br />
chose to take two unconventional<br />
classes that MCC was offering (my<br />
initial motives for doing so I still<br />
do not know). One was a history<br />
class that solely focused on the<br />
Battle of Gettysburg and the other<br />
consisted of an international study<br />
and “Model” of the United Nations.<br />
For the Get t ysburg class , the<br />
ultimate objective was to take a trip<br />
to the one place where the most<br />
upfront perspective of the Battle<br />
could be given -- Gettysburg itself.<br />
In the weeks prior to the trip, the<br />
class met once a week to learn the<br />
background of the Battle and gain a<br />
basic understanding of its significance<br />
and implications. While learning all<br />
this information was necessary and<br />
beneficial, I could not help but find<br />
myself lost and a bit bored being once<br />
again lectured to.<br />
The same can be said for the United<br />
Nations class as well. The point<br />
of this class was to take a trip to<br />
Chicago where we would simulate<br />
a United Nations conference as<br />
representatives from a member<br />
nation (in this case Haiti). In the<br />
weeks leading up to the trip to<br />
Gettysburg, it was the same old<br />
business of researching and trying to<br />
learn as much information as humanly<br />
possible.<br />
Finally going on these trips after<br />
weeks of learning information on<br />
these two subjects though, brought<br />
forth a means of understanding it all.<br />
The phrase, “Seeing is believing” was<br />
no longer just a children’s reference<br />
to belief in Santa Claus; it rather took<br />
on an entirely different meaning and<br />
introduced a way of learning never<br />
experienced before. Seeing the<br />
actual battlefield of Gettysburg and<br />
participating in a realistic model of<br />
a United Nations conference greatly<br />
enhanced my perspective of both<br />
historical and contemporary aspects<br />
of reality. Going on these experiential<br />
trips proved more valuable than any<br />
monotonous lecture could ever be.<br />
That is not to say that lectures and<br />
discussion cannot be beneficial, but<br />
simply learning by trying to absorb<br />
every piece of information that<br />
a teacher throws at you is often<br />
overwhelming. The information most<br />
often goes in one ear and eventually<br />
out the other; it slowly fades and is<br />
ultimately forgotten as though its<br />
given importance is nonexistent.<br />
For the benefit of us all, our learning<br />
experiences in the classroom must<br />
be applied to reality, so that they are<br />
not just scrambled accumulations<br />
of arbitrarily accepted facts and<br />
ideas. It is important for society to<br />
continue educating itself in academic<br />
knowledge, but it must also recognize<br />
experiencing that knowledge because<br />
without experience, knowledge is<br />
nothing more than words on trees. <br />
MCC students (l-r)<br />
Joshua Johnson, Lance<br />
Marczak, and Gabriel<br />
Gasior mug for the<br />
camera on the trip to<br />
Gettysburg<br />
12 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
Beyond the Stage: MCC Students Learn the Rigors of Acting for TV<br />
By Dan Rinsema-Sybenga<br />
Everyone waits for the camera. The<br />
camera waits for no one. That’s a<br />
hard truth students of Carlo Spataro’s<br />
Acting for TV and Film class have been<br />
learning for the last eight years. Begun<br />
as an addition to the Theater degree<br />
offered at MCC, the class has grown<br />
in expectation and possibility as<br />
Michigan’s film industry expands. But<br />
at it’s core, the fundamentals haven’t<br />
changed; what are the techniques<br />
that will make acting believable and<br />
convincing to viewers down the line<br />
peering in on a screen<br />
Carlo Spataro began Acting for TV<br />
and Film in 2002 after he had retired<br />
as the founding Director of Theater<br />
at MCC. Spataro had come to MCC<br />
in 1965 as the <strong>College</strong> was preparing<br />
for the opportunities afforded the<br />
arts, thanks to a catalytic donation by<br />
Harold Frauenthal to create the Fine<br />
Arts wing of the “New” campus. After<br />
years of directing for theater, Spataro<br />
was interested in the challenges of a<br />
different form of acting, and submitted<br />
the curriculum for his new course idea<br />
to what was then Instructional Affairs.<br />
The course was approved and started<br />
by having students try their skills in<br />
10 minute scenes and 15 minute miniplays.<br />
Four years ago Spataro began using<br />
episode screenplays that gave students<br />
a larger framework within which to<br />
develop their characters. First, the<br />
structure was provided by Smallville,<br />
and more recently by episodes of the<br />
Twilight Zone. For the first time in<br />
2010 Spataro wrote his own episode,<br />
titled “Who am I”, inspired by the<br />
Twilight Zone.<br />
The 16 students who made up the<br />
2010 class were some of the finest<br />
Spataro has seen. “This class makes<br />
you step out of your comfort zone,<br />
and requires a different level of<br />
participation, as opposed to an<br />
appreciation class,” stated Spataro.<br />
“These students didn’t miss an off<br />
campus taping, and have shown up<br />
to every class activity, even when not<br />
required.”<br />
But as with anything where acting is<br />
involved, it always comes down to<br />
persuasion and believability. In “Who<br />
am I”, the students undertake a<br />
dizzying case of misplaced identity,<br />
spanning space and time. You can see<br />
for yourself how they do on MCC<br />
TV as the episode is airing through<br />
February. <br />
Shoot for the Stars<br />
Golf Outing to benefit the<br />
Carr-Fles Planetarium at<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
Friday, June 3, <strong>2011</strong> • 8am-2pm<br />
University Park Golf Course<br />
$80 includes lunch and prizes<br />
Details/register at muskegoncc.edu/golf<strong>2011</strong><br />
MCC Earns Military<br />
Friendly Status<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong><br />
was designated a Militar y<br />
Friendly School by G.I. Jobs<br />
Magazine, an honor bestowed<br />
only on the top 15% of colleges,<br />
universities, and trade schools<br />
nationwide. This designation was<br />
made due to efforts to efforts by<br />
MCC to recruit and train<br />
military and veteran students.<br />
For more information on<br />
services MCC provides veterans,<br />
visit muskegoncc.edu/veterans. <br />
Reflections Magazine 13
Donor Profile:<br />
Marvin Anderson<br />
By Julie Weller<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> has remained<br />
a warm memory in the heart of Marvin<br />
Anderson, a 1966 graduate and recent<br />
benefactor of MCC’s “Reach for the Stars”<br />
planetarium fundraising campaign.<br />
Anderson majored in business while at<br />
MCC, and after earning a Bachelor’s degree<br />
in business at Western Michigan University,<br />
eventually owned his own accounting business.<br />
“Every class you take broadens your view of<br />
the world,” said Anderson. “You have to have<br />
the desire to put your best foot forward and<br />
apply yourself.”<br />
Anderson, who now lives in Indiana, learned<br />
of the Carr-Fles Planetarium and it’s major<br />
upgrade campaign in the <strong>Muskegon</strong> Chronicle.<br />
“When I read about the [Planetarium] in<br />
the <strong>Muskegon</strong> Chronicle,” said Anderson, “I<br />
decided to help by making a sizable donation<br />
to kick-start the fundraising project.”<br />
The Carr-Fles Planetarium, West Michigan’s<br />
only planetarium offering free shows to the<br />
public, has been in operation since 1972.<br />
Alumni Profile:<br />
The Burrels: A Family of MCC Alumni<br />
by Julie Weller<br />
It began around 1970, when the late<br />
Dr. William Burrel was challenged by<br />
the young members of his church.<br />
They told him he could not do well at<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> because<br />
discrimination prevented it. Dr. Burrel<br />
rose to that challenge, attended MCC<br />
with a 4.0 grade average, and went on to<br />
get his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate<br />
degrees as well.<br />
Eventually all 12 of the Burrel children<br />
attended MCC, including Michael Burrel,<br />
current member of the Alumni Relations<br />
Committee, and past President of the<br />
MCC Alumni Association.<br />
“MCC is the best option out of high<br />
school for the local population,” said<br />
Michael. “The level of education is second<br />
to none. The credits transfer anywhere<br />
in the world. And MCC’s dedication<br />
to collegiate sports gives area athletes<br />
numerous opportunities.”<br />
After graduating from MCC, Michael<br />
obtained his bachelor’s degree from<br />
United Bible <strong>College</strong>, and started a career<br />
path which included YFCA Outreach<br />
Director, <strong>Muskegon</strong> Public Schools At-Risk<br />
Specialist, White Lake Area <strong>Community</strong><br />
Education “Work First” program, Habitat<br />
for Humanity <strong>Community</strong> Organizer and<br />
Developer, Prosecutor’s Office Crime<br />
Victims Advocate, and now Pastor of the<br />
Apostolic Church of God in <strong>Muskegon</strong>.<br />
Michael has also published a book of<br />
theology, “How Are the Dead Raised”.<br />
Family and faith are ingrained in the<br />
Burrel family, and Michael is no exception.<br />
He and his wife Lecia have been together<br />
27 years, and their five children are also<br />
on the college track, all either attending<br />
universities or planning to in the near<br />
future. And if Michael ever encountered<br />
discrimination, he never let it slow him<br />
down.<br />
“I was the first black homecoming king at<br />
Orchard View High School in 1979,” said<br />
Michael, noting that all 12 of the Burrel<br />
children attended Orchard View schools.<br />
Here is a family, with multiple generations,<br />
proving that with faith and good education,<br />
you can go anywhere you want to go! <br />
“The Carr-Fles Planetarium is open year<br />
round,” said Anderson. “Hopefully, with the<br />
upgrades, it will become a tourist destination<br />
instead of a local and area ‘hidden gem.’ Let’s<br />
step forward and do this. This project is more<br />
than one individual can do, but we can do it<br />
together.” <br />
Marvin Anderson (left) discusses<br />
the planetarium upgrade with<br />
MCC President Dale Nesbary. Vintage Burrel family photo from 1990<br />
14 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
Focus on the Foundation:<br />
Founding Board Member Peter Turner<br />
By Dan Rinsema-Sybenga<br />
When Peter and Beverley Turner arrived<br />
in <strong>Muskegon</strong> in 1972 they had no idea that<br />
they would become so intimately tied to<br />
the <strong>Muskegon</strong> and MCC communities.<br />
The focus of this year’s Global<br />
Awareness Festival is on Europe.<br />
This week-long event brings the<br />
world a little closer to <strong>Muskegon</strong>.<br />
All activities are free! Join us<br />
for lectures, discussions, films,<br />
foods, information fair, global<br />
entertainment, artifact displays,<br />
200 flags, and much more!<br />
Highlights include:<br />
Monday, February 7<br />
MCC Choir: Folk songs of<br />
Europe<br />
EU: The New Europe discussion<br />
Tuesday, February 8<br />
Folktales and Fun<br />
EU Film and discussion<br />
Science and Technology Seminar:<br />
Wind Power in Europe and West<br />
Michigan<br />
Under the Tuscan Sun at an<br />
Italian Cooking School<br />
Wednesday, February 9<br />
Keynote Speaker: Michael<br />
Soimar, President L-3 Combat<br />
Propulsion Systems, native of<br />
Romania<br />
Thursday, February 10<br />
Honors Seminar hosted by Phi<br />
Theta Kappa<br />
Seminar: Women’s Issues<br />
Friday, February 11<br />
EU Film and discussion<br />
Event details at<br />
www.muskegoncc.edu/GAF<br />
A business executive, Peter was dispatched<br />
to <strong>Muskegon</strong> as the Executive Vice<br />
President of Bennett Pump, after he led<br />
an acquisition by his then employer, Molson<br />
Canada, that unwittingly left the company<br />
as the owner of this local company. Within<br />
months of their arrival, Beverley had put<br />
the couple’s international experience to<br />
use tutoring international students at<br />
MCC. That quickly led to a stint in college<br />
advertising and eventually a position as an<br />
English instructor.<br />
With his increasing community involvement,<br />
and obvious connection through Beverley,<br />
attorney Lou Landeman approached<br />
Peter to sit on the initial Foundation for<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong> Board,<br />
which was just being founded at that time.<br />
Peter agreed and immediately became<br />
engaged in the long range planning the<br />
college had then recently embarked upon.<br />
Having served as the Vice-President for<br />
Planning at Molson, and overseen strategic<br />
initiatives which had doubled their revenue,<br />
Peter was a natural at helping MCC prepare<br />
for the future.<br />
“We always knew education would be the<br />
future of this community, and I am so proud<br />
to have contributed to an institution that<br />
provides that essential life link for residents<br />
of the <strong>Muskegon</strong> community,” stated Turner.<br />
From the late 1990s through 2006,<br />
Peter was an integral part of realizing<br />
the addition of the Meijer Library to the<br />
MCC campus. In fact, in memory of his<br />
wife Beverley, Peter provided a donation<br />
that resulted in the English Garden just<br />
outside the Library, a fitting symbol of his<br />
and Beverley’s committment to the MCC<br />
community. <br />
“I couldn’t have been<br />
more pleased than to<br />
be a part of the initial<br />
long range planning<br />
efforts of the <strong>College</strong>,<br />
which have born much<br />
fruit over the years.”<br />
Reflections Magazine 15
ALUMNI NEWS<br />
1940s<br />
Mary Peliotes Davros (1947)<br />
Major Area of Study: Education/<br />
Teaching<br />
Higher Degree: BS at Western<br />
Michigan University<br />
Advanced Degree: MA at Western<br />
Michigan University and Special<br />
Education at University of Michigan<br />
Fond Memories or people at MCC:<br />
Dr. John McKinley, Professor of<br />
Sociology and Alexina Meier-English<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career A strong<br />
desire to continue learning. Without<br />
the super foundation that the MCC<br />
staff gave me I truly believe that I<br />
would not have been as successful in<br />
my professional and personal life.<br />
1950s<br />
Mary Eherenman (1951)<br />
Major Area of Study: Elementary<br />
Education<br />
Higher Degree: BA from University<br />
of Michigan<br />
Advanced Degree: MA in Education<br />
from Indiana<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: Excellent<br />
professors/teachers… small class<br />
size… social activities… and all of the<br />
perks of a small college!<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career It gave me<br />
an excellent foundation to go on to<br />
UofM for my last two years, and my<br />
education courses there.<br />
1960s<br />
Charlene Knuth (1967)<br />
Major Area of Study: Social Studies<br />
Higher Degree: BS from Grand Valley<br />
State University<br />
Advanced Degree: MA from Central<br />
Michigan University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: Having<br />
to find rides to classes at various<br />
locations - Vanderlaan Bldg, Hackley<br />
Bldg, Wilson Bldg, since there was no<br />
central campus. It was a great way to<br />
meet other students. I was able to<br />
take an Art History Class at the new<br />
(back then) campus at Quarterline<br />
Road before graduating.<br />
What impact had MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career MCC<br />
provided me with access to higher<br />
education at a reasonable cost. The<br />
high academic standard and quality<br />
of education helped achieve personal<br />
goals. Several of my former students<br />
chose to attend MCC and had<br />
positive experiences.<br />
Ray Veeder (1965)<br />
Major Area of Study: Everything<br />
Higher Degree: BA at Western<br />
Michigan University<br />
Advanced Degree: MA at Western<br />
Michigan University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: Men’s<br />
Union and Teeter-Totter Fundraiser<br />
What impact had MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career It was the<br />
foundation of my education.<br />
Russ Sterenberg (1963)<br />
Major Area of Study: Pre-Education<br />
Higher Degree: BA at Michigan State<br />
University<br />
Advanced Degree: MA at Michigan<br />
State University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: The<br />
excellent instruction Fridays in the<br />
lounge and beach parties at the bend.<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career It gave me<br />
a chance at college and a career in<br />
education.<br />
1970s<br />
Judy McLain (1975)<br />
Major Area of Study: Sociology and<br />
pre-social work<br />
Higher Degree: BSW at Michigan<br />
State University<br />
Advanced Degree: MA at Michigan<br />
State University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: I was like<br />
a sponge- everything was like “Wow, I<br />
didn’t know that!”<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career I was a<br />
high school dropout- I learned that<br />
I could learn and that I had what it<br />
takes intellectually to excel in higher<br />
education.<br />
Ellen Gedeon (1972)<br />
Major Area of Study: Elementary<br />
Education Social Studies<br />
Higher Degree: Western Michigan<br />
University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: Daniel<br />
Yakes and the SS team. They inspired<br />
me to continue social studies at<br />
WMU and to teach.<br />
What impact had MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career Well<br />
prepared for WMU and excellent<br />
prep work for my education.<br />
1980s<br />
Erma Gordon-Starr-Gibson<br />
(1989) Majored in Education at<br />
MCC, and earned a B.A. from Grand<br />
Valley State University. She was<br />
a former board member of the<br />
MCC Alumni Association, and has<br />
recently published an autobiography<br />
“Whoever You Are, Wherever You<br />
Are, It’s Okay.”<br />
Kimberly A Moore (1988)<br />
Major Area of Study: Criminal Justice<br />
Higher Degree: Bachelor of Science<br />
at GVSU<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: The CJ<br />
professors were great.<br />
What impact has MCC had<br />
on your life and/or career The<br />
MACRAO agreement is the best way<br />
to go!<br />
1990s<br />
NaShawn McCarty-Hill (1992)<br />
Major Area of Study: Business/<br />
Marketing<br />
Higher Degree: Graduated from<br />
Western Michigan University, and<br />
currently pursuing MBA<br />
16 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
Fond Memories of MCC: Being a<br />
student representative and hanging<br />
out with my high school friends that<br />
continued on at MCC after high<br />
school<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career MCC gave<br />
me a great start on my education<br />
which has led to a great career.<br />
2000s<br />
Stacy Hamilton (2007)<br />
Major Area of Study: Criminal Justice<br />
Higher Degree: Currently enrolled at<br />
Grand Valley State University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: The<br />
wonderful staff and faculty. I worked<br />
with Carmella Martinez in the<br />
Financial Aid Office under the work<br />
study program and I loved every<br />
minute of it! I also loved the faculty<br />
at MCC and don’t think I could have<br />
made it without Professors Janet<br />
Irwin, Ronnie Jewell, Clifton Young,<br />
Al Baretto, and Chris Hain there to<br />
support me along the way! I am sure<br />
I have forgotten a few but I really<br />
can’t say enough about the wonderful<br />
faculty the MCC has!<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career MCC<br />
provided a great start for me in the<br />
world. I obtained a great education<br />
without having to go into a world of<br />
debt in order to do so! I also got the<br />
benefit of learning from the faculty<br />
who have had years of experience<br />
working in the fields in which they<br />
taught, and so I learned what I too<br />
could expect in the field.<br />
Matt Dunn (2004)<br />
Major Area of Study: Business<br />
Management and Marketing<br />
Higher Degree: Graduated from<br />
Grand Valley State University<br />
Advanced Degree: Masters from<br />
Xavier University in OH<br />
Fond Memories at MCC: I enjoyed<br />
attending MCC basketball games;<br />
additionally, I played Fall Ball for<br />
MCC’s baseball team in 2002 and<br />
thoroughly enjoyed my experience<br />
participating in that.<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career MCC, in<br />
time, has made me aspire to teach as<br />
a professor at the community college<br />
level. Currently, I’m self-employed<br />
as a publisher author; co-authoring<br />
books: “Game Time Adjustments” and<br />
“Demon Chaser” with Bill Pugh.<br />
Christopher Foreman (2008)<br />
Major Area of Study: C/Java<br />
Programming and MACRAO<br />
Higher Degree: Graduated from<br />
Ferris State University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: I<br />
remember being a work study in the<br />
IT department and learning in a great<br />
environment with great people. It was<br />
truly a life changing experience and I<br />
will always remember it.<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career MCC gave<br />
me the tools I needed to succeed at<br />
Ferris State University and was one<br />
of the most positive experiences I’ve<br />
had.<br />
David Martin (2005)<br />
Major Area of Study: English<br />
Higher Degree: BA from Grand Valley<br />
State University<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: I<br />
really enjoyed the help I received<br />
scheduling classes from my counselor<br />
Mr. Visconti. He was very helpful and<br />
informative. I also miss Mary Tyler<br />
and the Shakespeare class she taught.<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career In terms<br />
of a career anything definite remains<br />
to be seen. As for my life I stop and<br />
remember some times. I wonder<br />
what I would have done differently.<br />
Kathleen Karpin (2002)<br />
Major Area of Study: Graduated with<br />
an ASA<br />
Higher Degree: BA in English/<br />
Language Arts at GVSU<br />
Advanced Degree: Masters in Early<br />
Childhood Education<br />
Fond Memories of MCC: As an<br />
adult returning student, I was most<br />
impressed with the willingness of<br />
everyone on campus to help me. Any<br />
faculty member that I encountered<br />
was willing to stop and help me no<br />
matter what the circumstance.<br />
What impact has MCC had on<br />
your life and/or career Without<br />
the warm friendliness of staff, the<br />
welcoming feeling on campus and the<br />
high expectations of students, I would<br />
not have continued or be where I am<br />
today.<br />
Employee Alumni<br />
Bill D. Page, Ph.D.<br />
MCC’s Dean of Students from 1985-<br />
86, wrote a book titled “Boy Scouts,<br />
Bullies and Indian Creek: It Happened<br />
in Marion.” In addition to working<br />
at MCC, Bill was an elementary<br />
and special education school<br />
principal in Rockford, IL, an assistant<br />
superintendent to the Illinois State<br />
Superintendent of Education in<br />
Springfield, IL, and superintendent of<br />
schools in Whitehall, MI. The former<br />
Boy and Cub Scout Master, was also<br />
a trapper, carpenter, cabinet maker,<br />
sheet metal worker, drafter, railroad<br />
section hand, and highway worker.<br />
He currently resides in <strong>Muskegon</strong>.<br />
What’s new with you<br />
Our alumni always impress us with<br />
their letters and warm memories—<br />
please keep them coming! Please<br />
let us know about your newest<br />
job, retirement, marriage, or other<br />
milestones. Send your updates to<br />
alumnirelations@muskegoncc.edu.<br />
Keep in touch with fellow alumni at<br />
www.facebook.com/mccalumni<br />
Reflections Magazine 17
MCC Faculty/Staff Updates<br />
Retirements<br />
MCC recently recognized the<br />
following retirees, who provided a<br />
total of over 700 years of service<br />
to the <strong>College</strong> (years of service is<br />
indicated): Diana Osborn, Executive<br />
Vice President (42), Roger Stoel,<br />
Librarian (41), Beth Smith, Health<br />
Physical Education and Recreation<br />
Instructor (35), Patricia DeVries,<br />
Nursing Instructor (35), Janet Taylor,<br />
<strong>College</strong> Success Center Department<br />
Secretary (35), Richard Doctor,<br />
English Instructor (33), Dr. Tim<br />
Trainor, CIS/ Psychology Instructor<br />
(33), Kathy Schrader, Tutoring Center<br />
Coordinator (32), Mary Smith,<br />
Employment Services Director (31),<br />
Teresa Finnegan, Student Services<br />
Sr. Clerk (31), Diane Krasnewich,<br />
Math Instructor (30), Janie Brooks,<br />
Vice President of Student Services<br />
(25), Margitta Rose, <strong>College</strong> Success<br />
Center Math Paraprofessional (23),<br />
William “Bill” Jacobks, History<br />
Instructor (23), Jan Fields, Respiratory<br />
Therapy Instructor (22), Janice<br />
Agard, English Communications<br />
Instructor (22), Dr. John Bartley,<br />
Geology Instructor (21), Joe Doyle,<br />
Vice President of Administrative<br />
Services (21), Judy Romans, English<br />
Department Secretary (20),<br />
Virginia Bagnieschi, Social Sciences<br />
Department Secretary (18), Connie<br />
Holmberg, Library Clerk (17), Barb<br />
Holtrop, Nursing Instructor (16),<br />
Stephen Schmidt, <strong>College</strong> Success<br />
Center Reading Instructor (15),<br />
Keith Tanis, Custodian (15), Sheryl<br />
Lowry, Guidance Counselor (14), Tom<br />
O’Brien, Director of Business and<br />
Industry Training (13), Beverly Hair,<br />
Sociology Instructor (12).<br />
New to MCC<br />
Bill Bowen, Bowling Coach<br />
Ronald Bush II, Executive Director of<br />
Human Resources<br />
Karin Burrell, Mathematics Instructor<br />
Jeanne Cooper-Kuiper, English<br />
Instructor<br />
Stanley Dean, Maintence Supervisor<br />
Robert Eich, History Instructor<br />
Eli Fox, Enrollment Representative<br />
Susan Frazier, Nursing Instructor<br />
Dean Fritzemeier, Tutoring<br />
Paraprofessional<br />
Barbara Goudie, Nursing Instructor<br />
Jessica Graf, HPER Instructor<br />
Charlotte Griffith, Librarian<br />
Larry Haughn, Wrestling Coach<br />
Lucinda Hines, Custodian<br />
John Johnson, CIS Instructor<br />
Tamera Owens, Math Sciences<br />
Department Secretary<br />
Erin Patrick, Enrollment<br />
Representative<br />
Mary Schutt, Social Sciences<br />
Department Secretary<br />
Ben Ritsema, Soccer Coach<br />
Mike Smith, Cross Country Coach<br />
David Stradal, Business Instructor<br />
Donald Studt, Respiratory Therapy<br />
Dr. Thomas Tisue, Chemistry<br />
Instructor<br />
Marcia Truxton, CSC Math<br />
Paraprofessional<br />
Chris VanOosterhout, CIS Instructor<br />
Cliff Young, English Instructor<br />
Awards and Achievements<br />
Rosemary Zink has been appointed<br />
the new MCC Vice President for<br />
Administration. Besides serving as<br />
Director of Finance/Associate VP<br />
for Administration here at MCC for<br />
the past five years, she also served<br />
in excess of 20 years as Director<br />
of Finance with Ottawa County<br />
government. Previously, she served<br />
as Senior Accountant for Alexander<br />
Grant & Company. She holds a<br />
Master of Business Administration<br />
degree from GVSU with an emphasis<br />
in Management, has CPA and CMA<br />
(Certified Management Accountant)<br />
certifications, and earned a<br />
undergraduate degree from Central<br />
Michigan University.<br />
Pam Brown, Director of Nursing at<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> <strong>Community</strong> <strong>College</strong>, was<br />
appointed to the state-wide Michigan<br />
Nursing Education Council.<br />
Mathematics instructor Maria<br />
Andersen’s Algebra Activities were<br />
recently published by Cengage<br />
Learning. The book is a 1,000-<br />
page instructor resource binder of<br />
activities and teaching guides for<br />
algebra.<br />
Most recently, an article written by<br />
Andersen, “The World is My School:<br />
Welcome to the Era of Personalized<br />
Learning,” was published in The<br />
Futurist (Jan/Feb <strong>2011</strong>) <br />
Find a world of<br />
personal and career<br />
enrichment options at<br />
muskegoncc.edu/options<br />
Career Development<br />
Health Care<br />
Certificate Programs<br />
Event Planning Series<br />
Personal Development<br />
Institute for Healing Racism<br />
Health & Recreation<br />
Online Classes<br />
Conferences<br />
Special Events<br />
Language<br />
ACT Prep<br />
CEUs<br />
and more!<br />
Call or click to register today!<br />
(231) 777-0348 • muskegoncc.edu/ce<br />
18 <strong>Winter</strong> <strong>2011</strong> | www.muskegoncc.edu
Campus Calendar<br />
Now-March 4, <strong>2011</strong><br />
Europe in Focus: Photographs from 3<br />
West Michigan Artists - Overbrook<br />
Gallery<br />
Now-February 24, 7pm Tuesdays and<br />
Thursdays<br />
Mars Quest, free planetarium show -<br />
Carr-Fles Planetarium<br />
Sunday, March 13, 7pm<br />
<strong>College</strong> Singers serenade you with a<br />
free concert - Immanuel Lutheran<br />
Church<br />
March 14-April 22<br />
The Poetry Of Dust, painting,<br />
assemblage, and artist books by<br />
Alvey Jones - Overbrook Gallery<br />
Jayhawks<br />
Sports Digest<br />
During Fall of 2010 the MCC women’s<br />
tennis team won state and regional<br />
titles for the first time in 30 years<br />
when they beat Kalamazoo Valley on<br />
Saturday October 2nd. The team will<br />
compete at nationals in the spring.<br />
MCC finished as the second-best<br />
junior college women’s volleyball<br />
team in the region, after posting a<br />
35-9 overall record. Tiffany Brufladt<br />
and Ashley Hulbert were named to<br />
the all-regional team.<br />
The MCC men’s cross country<br />
team finished its first season in 30<br />
years ranked 18th in the country.<br />
Matt Kring, Jake Hernandez, Aaron<br />
Stenberg, Josh Wehr and Andrew<br />
Barrett all ran times that placed at<br />
nationals.<br />
The Jayhawk Sound, MCC’s new<br />
activity band, is a new addition to the<br />
sporting scene at MCC and will be<br />
playing at sports events throughout<br />
the winter semester.<br />
Jayhawk <strong>Winter</strong>/Spring Sports – Go<br />
to www.muskegoncc.edu/athletics for<br />
full schedules of basketball, wrestling,<br />
bowling, softball, baseball, and golf. <br />
Thursday, February 3, 7pm<br />
After The Fact: The Ongoing Life<br />
Of Documentary Photography, free<br />
lecture with Dr. Sara Blair, Professor<br />
of English at the University of<br />
Michigan - MCC’s Stevenson Center<br />
Room 1100<br />
Friday, February 4, <strong>2011</strong><br />
The Vagina Monologues, Fundraiser<br />
For the MCC Emergency Fund -<br />
Overbrook Theater<br />
February 7-11, <strong>2011</strong><br />
Global Awareness Festival <strong>2011</strong><br />
February 16-20, <strong>2011</strong><br />
The Pillowman, a blindingly bright<br />
black comedy that is thoughtprovoking<br />
and funny - Overbrook<br />
Theater<br />
Thursday, February 17, <strong>2011</strong>, 6pm<br />
Alumni Theater Night - Join us for<br />
appetizers and catching up with<br />
fellow alumni and then enjoy the<br />
Overbrook Theater presentation<br />
of The Pillowman - Overbrook<br />
Theater (reservations required<br />
alumnirelations@muskegoncc.edu)<br />
Thursday, February 24, 7pm<br />
Jazz & Wind Ensemble present their<br />
free winter concert - Overbrook<br />
Theater<br />
March 8 - April 7, 7pm Tuesdays and<br />
Thursdays<br />
Mars Quest, free planetarium show -<br />
Carr-Fles Planetarium<br />
April 19-April 28 7pm Tuesdays and<br />
Thursday<br />
Light Years from Andromeda free<br />
planetarium show - Carr-Fles<br />
Planetarium<br />
Sunday, April 17, 7pm<br />
<strong>College</strong> Singers present their free<br />
spring concert - Overbrook Theater<br />
Wednesday-Thursday, April 20-21,<br />
7:30pm<br />
Studio on Stage, theater and dance<br />
students bring their classwork to the<br />
stage - Overbrook Theater<br />
Tuesday, May 3, <strong>2011</strong>, 6pm<br />
Distinguished Alumni Award Dinner<br />
- Enjoy dinner with the <strong>2011</strong><br />
Distinguished Alumni Award<br />
recipients and other nominees<br />
the eve before commencement -<br />
Blue & Gold Room ($5 suggested<br />
donation to the Alumni Relations<br />
Fund; reservations required<br />
alumnirelations@muskegoncc.edu)<br />
Wednesday, May 4, <strong>2011</strong>, 7:30pm<br />
Commencement - L.C. Walker Arena<br />
Saturday, May 14, 10:00am<br />
Mayfest - Fun-filled day of free<br />
activities and events for kids of all<br />
ages<br />
Saturday, June 18, <strong>2011</strong>, 6pm<br />
Alumni ReunionFest - see<br />
www.muskegon.edu/alumni for<br />
details about this fun event for all<br />
alumni!<br />
See www.muskegoncc.edu/MCCcalendar<br />
and find us on Facebook at<br />
www.facebook.com/muskegoncc to stay<br />
up-to-date on what’s happening!<br />
Reflections Magazine 19
221 S Quarterline Road<br />
<strong>Muskegon</strong> MI 49442<br />
Jayhawk Cecil “CJ” Luvene rises above the competition<br />
while playing at Calvin <strong>College</strong> in November. The Jayhawks<br />
overcame a 27-11 halftime deficit to win the game.<br />
Photo by Scott Stone